Phlox plant named ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’, particularly distinguished by flowers deep red-colored flowers, compact habit, healthy foliage, and good mildew resistance, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Phlox paniculata.

Variety denomination: ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant botanically known as Phlox paniculata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’. The new cultivar originated from an open pollination in 2005 in a nursery location in Haarlem, The Netherlands between unknown male and female Phlox paniculata plants.

The new cultivar was selected from the results of the open pollination in 2007 in Haarlem, The Netherlands. Asexual reproduction of the new Phlox by vegetative cuttings in a controlled environment in Haarlem, The Netherlands since the summer of 2007, has shown that the unique features of the Phlox are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Haarlem, The Netherlands:

-   -   1. Deep red-colored flowers;     -   2. Compact habit;     -   3. Healthy foliage; and     -   4. Good mildew resistance.

Of the many commercially available Phlox cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Starfire’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’ differ from plants of ‘Starfire’ by having healthier foliage, thicker stems, and a sturdier, more compact plant habit. Additionally, ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’ flowers more evenly and earlier in the season with flowers that have a richer color than those of ‘Starfire’.

In addition, plants of the new cultivar ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’ are similar to ‘Piña Colada’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,968. However, in side by side comparisons in Haarlem, The Netherlands, plants of the new cultivar ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’ differ from plants of ‘Piña Colada’ in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’. The plant was grown for approximately 1 year in a 1.5-liter container in Haarlem, The Netherlands in an outdoor nursery location.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side view of the overall growth and habit of ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’.

The photograph on the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of the inflorescence of ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’.

The photograph on the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of the foliage of ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Haarlem, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken in September on 1-year-old plants in 1.5 liter containers which were planted and grown outdoors in daytime temperatures between 12° C. and 32° C. and nighttime temperatures between 4° C. and 16° C. No pinching, growth retardants or photoperiodic treatments were used. Observations were made when the plants were in natural daylight conditions.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox paniculata cultivar ‘Strawberry     Daiquiri’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata.         -   Male parent.—Unknown Phlox paniculata. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Vegetative cutting.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 30 days with             average soil temperature of 21° C.         -   Root description.—White, thin, fibrous, sparse.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Type.—Herbaceous perennial. Overall shape: Narrow inverted             triangle. High temperature tolerance: Tolerant to at least             35° C. Low temperature tolerance: Hardy to at least USDA             Zone 4.         -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 25 weeks from rooted             cutting to finish in a 1.5 liter container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Upright, low to             moderately vigorous.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 32.1 cm. Width: Approximately 15.7 cm. Rate of             growth: In spring, approximately 7 cm per month.         -   Branching habit.—Low to moderate basal branching; pinching             will improve basal branching; flowering stems grow from             base. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 2             flowering stems.         -   Stem.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect.             Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately 17.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central internode:             Approximately 1.5 cm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent. Color of             young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per stem:             Approximately 22. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.             Durability to stress: High.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Elliptic, moderately convex. Margin: Slightly             revolute, very short and finely serrate with approximately             30 teeth per cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately             7.4 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 2.7 cm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color of             upper surface of young foliage: Closest to but more intense             than 141A with venation of 144B. Color of lower surface of             young foliage: 137C with venation of 144B to 144C. Color of             upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation of 144B.             Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 137C to 38A with             venation of 144B to 144C.         -   Petiole.—Shape: V-shaped. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm.             Width: Approximately 3.0 mm. Height: Approximately 2.5 mm.             Color: 144A to 144B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering under outdoor growing             conditions with substantially continuous blooming from             summer through late summer.         -   Lastingness off lower on the plant.—Approximately 10 days.         -   Flowering response time.—Approximately 60 days. -   Inflorescence Description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Compound terminal panicle,             self-cleaning. Fragrance: Moderately strong, sweet and             pleasant; typical Phlox paniculata scent. Height:             Approximately 15.1 cm. Width: Approximately 10.7 cm.             Quantity of opened flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 50. Rate of flower opening: Approximately 20%             of the flowers at any stage.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect primary peduncles             with secondary peduncles at approximately a 40° angle.             Length of primary: Approximately 12.7 cm. Diameter of             primary: Approximately 3.0 mm. Length of secondary:             Approximately 3.1 cm. Diameter of secondary: Approximately             1.5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single. Shape: Salverform.             Aspect: Upright to outward.         -   Bud just before opening.—Quantity per inflorescence:             Approximately 50. Shape: Oblanceolate. Length: Approximately             1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Color: Petals of 64A             to 64B; calyx N186C with 145A at base. Rate of opening:             Approximately 4 days.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 2.5 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.9 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, lower 55% of each petal fused into a             narrow tube. Arrangement: Rotate. Appearance: Dull. Shape,             lobe: Spathulate. Margin: Entire. Apex: Bluntly retuse.             Length: Approximately 3.0 cm. Length of free portion:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Width: Approximately 1.7 cm. Texture             of upper and lower surfaces: Smooth. Color of upper surface             when first open: N66A with 61A to 61B at tube opening; tube             of N77B. Color of lower surface when first open: 64B to N66D             with the tube of N77B. Color of upper surface when fully             open: 67A with 61A to 61B at tube opening; tube of N77B.             Color of lower surface when fully open: 64C to N66D with the             tube of N77B.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Campanulate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 4.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5, lower 70% fused into a narrow tube.             Arrangement: In a single whorl. Appearance: Moderately             glossy. Shape: Linear. Margin: Entire. Apex: Narrow             apiculate. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.7 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth. Color of upper and lower surfaces of             immature-sepals: N186C with 145A at base. Color of upper and             lower surfaces of mature sepals: N186C with 144B to 144C at             base.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect when directly             adjoining peduncle, others at an approximately 60° angle.             Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144A to 144B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower, basifixed. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Filament length: Approximately 1.5 mm.             Anther color: 8C. Pollen amount: Low to moderate. Pollen             color: 11C to 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per flower.             Pistil length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Stigma shape: Cleft             (3-parted). Stigma color: 150D. Style length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Style color: 187A. Ovary color: 143A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Good mildew resistance. No particular     resistance or susceptibility to other diseases or insects noted to     date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Strawberry Daiquiri’, substantially as herein shown and described. 